Children's home run by East Sussex County Council in Lewes

Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 1 SC068179 Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children of the same gender. The statement of purpose states that the home provides stability and support and ongoing intensive individual attention for children who have experienced trauma, disrupted development, loss and multiple placement moves.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2012.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2018 Full Good 23/01/2018 Full Good 03/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(iv)) 14/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 14/10/2019

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that sufficient consideration is given to assessing the risks associated with children coming to live at the home in relation to the risks Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 4 associated with children already living at the home.

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Recommendations

 Regulation 19(2) details sanctions that are prohibited in behaviour management. Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive high-quality care which is provided by a strong registered manager and an experienced team. Children enjoy positive relationships with staff who are insightful, professional, tenacious, sensitive and caring. This means that children live in an environment which is extremely supportive and nurturing. This was echoed by one parent who said, ‘I couldn’t ask for better’, feeling ‘100% happy’ about the standard of care that the staff provide to her child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to ask questions and be curious. This is because the staff team has created a culture where children can explore and feel safe. Ideas of difference are promoted with the children to help them embrace equality and diversity within a wholly inclusive environment. This enables them to broaden their understanding of the wider world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from highly individualised care which supports them to grow and develop. Through one-to-one sessions children are helped to explore their identity using ‘the river of life’ to guide discussions. Children receive help to manage their emotions, and self-soothe through staff offering relaxation sessions and self-pampering activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to re-engage in education. Bespoke packages are tailored to meet the children’s individual needs, which enables them to overcome barriers to learning. Close relationships with education professionals ensure that children receive excellent support. This has led to children making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively involved in decisions which affect their lives. This includes undertaking projects such as redesigning their study, where they have created an attractive ‘chill out’ room, and being involved in the interview process to select new staff. Children are confident in voicing their opinions, with staff being receptive in listening to their wishes, feelings and suggestions. All the children have access to advocacy and can be referred to access an independent visitor on their request.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Healthcare is, on the whole, of a good standard. All children have access to a range of Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 5 specialist health services to support their needs. This includes the opportunity to access therapy or bereavement counselling when they feel ready to engage. Staff are highly sensitive, and creative, in how they offer support to assist children in managing specific health needs. However, for one child an aspect of her care did not actively promote her dignity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager has taken steps to carefully consider all new admissions to the home since the last inspection. This has led to the current group being suitably matched. However, pre-placement impact assessments do not demonstrate how the risks associated with children coming to live at the home have been assessed against risks associated with children already living at the home. This has not negatively affected the current group of children who have settled together and are making steady progress.

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How well children and children are helped and protected: good

Staff are conscientious and skilled in their approach to safeguarding and are thorough in recording any concerns. The registered manager and deputy manager monitor these records closely to ensure that appropriate action is taken to address safeguarding issues, working closely with professionals to protect the children.

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How well children and children are helped and protected: good

Staff understand the specific risks relating to each child. Risk assessments provide clear guidance for the staff to reduce the potential for harm. Care plans are complemented by support plans. These outline clear strategies to guide the staff in providing effective interventions and appropriate measures to protect the children and promote their development.

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How well children and children are helped and protected: good

Children receive high levels of quality one-to-one time with staff. Conversations around safety and well-being form part of daily discussions with the children which are linked to individual care plans. These help them to understand why staff are worried about them, which helps them to develop a better understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Care plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain relevant to the children’s needs.

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How well children and children are helped and protected: good

Reports of children going missing contain comprehensive information about actions undertaken by staff to safeguard children and details of their return interviews. While there have been high levels of absence for some children, staff work hard to increase protective factors and work closely with professionals to reduce risk. For some children, there has been a significant reduction in this behaviour since moving to the home.

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How well children and children are helped and protected: good

Staff place considerable importance on praise and reward. Where sanctions are given, this is in response to unsafe or socially unacceptable behaviours. A restorative approach is used by the team to address some behaviours. However, this could be introduced to form part of all sanctions given, to encourage children to reflect more fully on their behaviour, especially when their actions impact on the safety of others.

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How well children and children are helped and protected: good

The staff are successful in providing a stable and safe environment which helps children Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 6 to settle. The children develop positive, trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. This is established through close supervision, and consistent and thoughtful care with clear structure and boundaries. Children say they feel safe living at the home and have trusted adults they can talk to should they have any worries or concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates a strong commitment to working with children, their families and external agencies. She leads her team by example, building positive relationships with the children to gain an in-depth understanding of their specific needs. This assists the staff in providing effective care to meet the individual and complex needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is continuously striving to improve the quality of care for the children living in the home. She works closely with senior managers in delivering the aims of her development plan, striving for continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive excellent support through supervision and team meetings. The team consults weekly with a therapist from the child and adolescent mental health team. This creates a platform for staff to review children’s progress, inform their practice and strengthen their therapeutic parenting skills. As a result, the team is highly resilient and delivers excellent standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective systems in place to monitor all aspects of the service and therefore maintain high standards of care. However, there have been two areas of health and safety which have been overlooked, specifically the monthly testing of the emergency lighting and recording the action taken to address recommendations from the home’s fire risk assessment. These shortfalls have not compromised the safety of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff link closely with external agencies to protect children, whether this involves strategies to reduce the risks associated with children going missing or through accessing intervention from a range of specialist services, such as the youth offending team or sexual health nurse. This promotes the safety and well-being of children.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 7 Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well

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Information about this inspection

it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: East Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, St. Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

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Inspector

Joe Davys, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068179 9 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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